The effect of vanadate on Na, K-ATPase activity has been studied in the lateral cochlear wall and the data have been compared with the results of electrophysiological experiments. Various ATPase activities were measured by using lumiphotometric method. Total ATPase and ouabain sensitive ATPase activities could be detected by a sensitive device. Vanadate inhibited Na, K-ATPase activity concentration-dependent manner by about 100%. Moreover, in the presence of ascorbic acid, the inhibitory effect of Na, K-ATPase activity of vanadate was abolished completely. These experimental results agreed with the former data, and inferred that oxidation-reduction reactions of vanadium in the stria vascularis should play a role in the endocochlear DC potential regulation system (ERS), and intracellular ascorbic acid, glutathione or diamine were thought to be fine control elements to the electrophysiological phenomena in the inner ear in biological systems.